In a brilliant illumination of the Renaissance mind, acclaimed Irish novelist John Banville re-creates the life of Johannes Kepler and his incredible drive to chart the orbits of the planets and the geometry of the universe. Wars, witchcraft, and disease rage throughout Europe. For this court mathematician, vexed by domestic strife, appalled by the religious upheavals that have driven him from exile to exile, and vulnerable to the whims of his eccentric patrons, astronomy is a quest for some form of divine order. For all the mathematical precision of his exploration, though, it is a seemingly elusive quest until he makes one glorious and profound discovery.

When the solution came, it came, as always, through a back door of the mind, hesitating shyly, an announcing angel dazed by the immensity of its journey."

-- from Kepler

In a brilliant illumination of the Renaissance mind, the acclaimed Irish novelist John Banville re-creates the life of Johannes Kepler and his incredible drive to chart the orbits of the planets and the geometry of the universe.

Wars, witchcraft, and disease rage throughout Europe. And for this court mathematician, vexed by domestic strife, appalled by the religious upheavals that have driven him from exile to exile, and vulnerable to the whims of his eccentric patrons, astronomy is a quest for some form of divine order. For all of the mathematical precision of his exploration, though, it is a seemingly elusive quest until he makes one glorious and profoundly human discovery.

"Narrative art...at a positively symphonic level."

-- The Guardian

About the Author :

John Banville was born in Wexford, Ireland, in 1945. He has been the recipient of the James Tait Black Memorial Prize (1976), the Guardian Fiction Prize (1981), the Guinness Peat Aviation Book Award (1989), and the Lannan Literary Award for Fiction (1997). He has been both shortlisted for the Booker Prize (1989) and awarded the Man Booker Prize (2005) as well as nominated for the Man Booker International Prize (2007). Other awards include the Franz Kafka Prize (2011), the Austrian State Prize for European Literature (2013), and the Prince of Asturias Award for Literature (2014). He lives in Dublin.

Description du livre Pan MacMillan, United Kingdom, 1999. Paperback. État : New. Language: English . Brand New Book. Superbly illuminates the man, the time, and the everlasting quest for knowledge - Observer . Johannes Kepler, born in 1571 in south Germany, was one of the world s greatest mathematicians and astronomers. This novel brilliantly recreates his life and his incredible drive to chart the orbits of the planets and the geometry of the universe while being driven from exile to exile by religious and domestic strife. At the same time it illuminates the harsh realities of the Renaissance world; rich in imaginative daring but rooted in poverty, squalor and the tyrannical power of emperors. Narrative art at a positively symphonic level - Guardian . One knows one is in the presence of a writer extraordinary. Wearing his vast research lightly, Mr Banville not only summons Kepler and his company of vivid souls but leads us into the small dark rooms - Sunday Telegraph . This very distinguished novel .is done with very considerable skill; it suggests that this is what such a life must indeed have been like and the result is a wonderfully human figure, rife with feelings, principles, regrets and courage - Sunday Times . An outstandingly good novel .a novel that dramatizes and celebrates intellectual passion. Which makes it a very rare novel indeed - Irish Press . N° de réf. du libraire AA79780330372336

Description du livre Pan MacMillan, United Kingdom, 1999. Paperback. État : New. Language: English . Brand New Book. Superbly illuminates the man, the time, and the everlasting quest for knowledge - Observer . Johannes Kepler, born in 1571 in south Germany, was one of the world s greatest mathematicians and astronomers. This novel brilliantly recreates his life and his incredible drive to chart the orbits of the planets and the geometry of the universe while being driven from exile to exile by religious and domestic strife. At the same time it illuminates the harsh realities of the Renaissance world; rich in imaginative daring but rooted in poverty, squalor and the tyrannical power of emperors. Narrative art at a positively symphonic level - Guardian . One knows one is in the presence of a writer extraordinary. Wearing his vast research lightly, Mr Banville not only summons Kepler and his company of vivid souls but leads us into the small dark rooms - Sunday Telegraph . This very distinguished novel .is done with very considerable skill; it suggests that this is what such a life must indeed have been like and the result is a wonderfully human figure, rife with feelings, principles, regrets and courage - Sunday Times . An outstandingly good novel .a novel that dramatizes and celebrates intellectual passion. Which makes it a very rare novel indeed - Irish Press . N° de réf. du libraire AA79780330372336

Description du livre Pan Macmillan. Paperback. État : new. BRAND NEW, Kepler, John Banville, 'Superbly illuminates the man, the time, and the everlasting quest for knowledge' - "Observer". Johannes Kepler, born in 1571 in south Germany, was one of the world's greatest mathematicians and astronomers. This novel brilliantly recreates his life and his incredible drive to chart the orbits of the planets and the geometry of the universe while being driven from exile to exile by religious and domestic strife. At the same time it illuminates the harsh realities of the Renaissance world; rich in imaginative daring but rooted in poverty, squalor and the tyrannical power of emperors. 'Narrative art at a positively symphonic level' - "Guardian". 'One knows one is in the presence of a writer extraordinary. Wearing his vast research lightly, Mr Banville not only summons Kepler and his company of vivid souls but leads us into the small dark rooms' - "Sunday Telegraph". 'This very distinguished novel .is done with very considerable skill; it suggests that this is what such a life must indeed have been like and the result is a wonderfully human figure, rife with feelings, principles, regrets and courage' - "Sunday Times". 'An outstandingly good novel .a novel that dramatizes and celebrates intellectual passion. Which makes it a very rare novel indeed' - "Irish Press". N° de réf. du libraire B9780330372336

Description du livre Paperback. État : New. Not Signed; 'Superbly illuminates the man, the time, and the everlasting quest for knowledge' - Observer . Johannes Kepler, born in 1571 in south Germany, was one of the world's greatest mathematicians and astronomers. This novel brilliantly recreates his life and his incredible drive to chart the orbits of th. book. N° de réf. du libraire ria9780330372336_rkm